18th Annual Q-Bio Conference: Global scholars explore new Frontiers in quantitative biology

The 18th Q-Bio Conference on Quantitative Biology was held at the Guangming Yungu International Conference Center in Shenzhen from July 26 to 29, 2024. Organized by the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology (iSynBio), and Peking University, the conference drew over 230 global researchers from countries including the U.S., U.K., France, India, Japan, Chile, and China.

Themed “Predictive Modeling and Quantitative Principles in Complex Biological Systems,” the event explored future prospects in quantitative and synthetic biology. Under the adept guidance of the local organizing committee, led by LIU Chenli, Vice President of SIAT and Founding Director of iSynBio, the conference achieved remarkable success.

In his opening address, LIU praised Shenzhen for its rapid growth as a hub for scientific research and technological innovation. He highlighted the burgeoning field of quantitative synthetic biology and the establishment of the new Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology in Guangming District, which leverages SIAT’s resources.

The conference featured presentations on Synthetic Biology, Systems Biology, Artificial Intelligence, Aging, Cancer, Molecular Evolution, and Microbiomes. Invited speaker James E. Ferrell from Stanford University praised the conference for its diverse topics and valuable insights into predictively designing behaviors in biological circuits.

TANG Chao, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chair Professor at Westlake University, recognized Shenzhen’s emerging role as an international center for quantitative and synthetic biology. He encouraged young scholars to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration and maintain intellectual curiosity.

Since its inception in 2007, the Q-Bio Conference has become a prominent event in biophysics and systems biology. “Quantitative biology, as a frontier interdisciplinary science, requires broad and effective international cooperation,” said WEI Ping, the conference organizer and researcher at SIAT.

This year, a Special Issue of the Quantitative Biology journal will feature selected papers from the conference in an Open-Access format.

The successful conclusion of Q-Bio 2024 underscores Shenzhen’s role in global scientific collaboration and its position as a leader in synthetic biology, driving innovation and interdisciplinary research.